Missing My Friends and Family!

Hello crafty friends!
I'm missing you all - and missing my family. Wasn't there just the strongest hope that summer and July would bring fewer COVID cases, and maybe some normalcy? Doesn't look like "normal" is even a thing anymore.

So my card today from Brutus Monroe fits perfectly with how I am feeling.

The animals are nowhere in sight! It's quiet on the farm. I thought this was a cute way to say "Missing You." I used Farmhouse Friends, stamping in Raven ink, and I colored with Copics. I have a handcut stencil that I used for clouds -- I have probably had it for over 12 years! But it works like a charm and makes luscious fluffy clouds! I used a sponge dauber to make them. I cut one of the Farmhouse Friends sentiments apart and popped the words up with mini dimensional foam tape. I think it turned out really cute. This one is going to my sister!

Have a GREAT Fourth of July weekend, everyone!

Freshly Made Sketches #442

It's Wednesday, and that means a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Jacquie is our hostess for this week, and she has a fun layered sketch for you to try.

I got some new goodies from The Greetery, and they seemed to work great with the idea I had in my head.

I used the Brick Layer Die as a stencil, and created other layers on top of that for my roses. The sentiment I wanted was a bit too large (ha!) for the sketch placement, so I added it to the bottom of the card.

I hope you will join us with your take on the sketch this week! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday, July 6. Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what lovely things my teammates have created on their blogs!

Creating With the June Die of the Month from Brutus Monroe

This week some of the DT at Brutus Monroe are sharing projects made with the June Die of the Month: Flower Burst!

I knew when I saw it that I wanted it to have a sparkly background, so I paired it with some of the pink sparkle cardstock in my stash. I added some pearls to the flower center, and a sentiment from Extra Sentimental cut with the Circle Foundation dies.

It's a beautiful cover plate and can have many different looks. Check out the Brutus Monroe Facebook page and Instagram for more inspiration using Flower Burst!

Freshly Made Sketches #441

It's Wednesday, and that means a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! It is my pleasure to host the challenge this week!

I recently received the Brighter Days dies from Concord & 9th, and thought they were perfect for today's sketch.

I had a little bit left of this fun patterned paper with hearts (Bella Blvd.) and it was perfect for the Color Throwdown #599 this week too. This came together quickly, and I know I will be using these dies frequently to send snail mail cheer!

I hope you will join us with your take on the sketch this week! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday, June 29. Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what lovely things my teammates have created on their blogs!

Bees are Beautiful -- and CUTE!

My husband and I will celebrate our 38th anniversary next month. And it's really a miracle. Because -- on our very first "date," we got lost, drove around looking for his family for hours, and finally, when we meet them for a picnic (for which I fried a WHOLE chicken, made all sorts of salads and desserts), I get stung by a bee. Not once, but TWICE!! And I am allergic. It's actually a funny story to us now, and we wonder how we got to Date #2!

Even though I am allergic to them, I am always drawn to cute little bees, bee sayings, tees, and adorable bee images, like these from Dare 2B Artzy - BUZZY BEEZ and the matching dies!

The patterned paper (ALL THE BUZZ) matches perfectly! I made a smooshed ink background for my hexagon tag (Reverse Confetti) and then cut two little bee hive dies from black cardstock. I stamped the bees on white cardstock and colored them with Copics, then popped them up with foam tape, as well as the tag, and the sweet sentiment. Isn't it the cutest?